Why are college basketball games played in...

Why are college basketball games played in halves and NBA games in quarters?

When James Naismith invented basketball, he decided the game should consist of two 15-minute halves. Geneva College, in 1892, became the first school to organize a team, and several universities followed. They adopted Naismith’s rules, including the 15-minute halves. Eventually, the time was extended to 20 minutes per half.

One of the first pro leagues, the Basketball Assn. of America, was formed in the 1940s by a group of hockey-team owners who wanted to have a use for their stadiums when the hockey teams were on the road.

With two 20-minute haves, most games ended in an hour. Hockey fans who came out to watch basketball were used to hockey’s three 20-minute periods, which meant almost two hours of entertainment, including intermissions. The fans complained, and the owners amended the rules to four 12-minute quarters.

Why not two 24-minute halves? The owners also realized that three intermissions meant two extra trips to the concession stands.

After two years, the BAA merged with a smaller league and became the NBA.